10 Common Wedding Day Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

10 Common Wedding Day Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Your wedding day is one of the most exciting and memorable moments of your life, but even with careful planning, unexpected hiccups can happen. To help you avoid stress, here are 10 common wedding day mistakes that I’ve seen, and how you can plan ahead to prevent them!

1. Not Having a Wedding Day Timeline

The Mistake: The day runs behind schedule, causing stress and missed moments.

How to Avoid It:

  • Create a detailed timeline for your day, including buffer time for getting ready, travel, and photos. If you’re having a hard time creating your timeline, I have a blog post that can help guide you. How to Create Your Wedding Day Timeline
  • Share the timeline with your photographer, bridal party, vendors, and anyone helping coordinate the day.
  • Ask your photographer for help in creating your timeline. Your photographer will know how much time things usually take.

2. Forgetting to Eat and Stay Hydrated

The Mistake: You get hangry, or exhausted from the lack of food.

How to Avoid It:

  • Have a bridal breakfast and pack easy snacks like granola bars or fruit.
  • Assign someone to hand you water throughout the day to keep you hydrated. This sounds like you’re being a princess but it is SO easy to forget to drink water or snack on your big day.

3. Not Breaking in Your Wedding Shoes

The Mistake: Painful blisters and sore feet make it hard to enjoy the reception.

How to Avoid It:

  • Wear your wedding shoes at home for a few days before the wedding.
  • Bring a comfortable backup pair of shoes for dancing!
  • Be sure you pack bandaids just incase you end up with blisters.

4. Underestimating the Time Needed for Hair & Makeup

The Mistake: Running late because getting ready took longer than expected.

How to Avoid It:

  • Schedule a trial run for hair and makeup before the big day.
  • Pad your timeline with at least 30 extra minutes in case of delays.
  • Hair and make-up usually take 45 Minutes to 60 Minutes each, plan accordingly in your timeline.

5. Not Having a Plan for Unexpected Weather

The Mistake: A sudden rainstorm or extreme heat disrupts your outdoor ceremony.

How to Avoid It:

  • Have a backup plan—rent a tent or choose a venue with an indoor option.
  • Provide guests with umbrellas or fans if needed.
  • Be sure to have clear umbrellas for your couples portraits just incase!

6. Forgetting to Delegate Tasks

The Mistake: The bride and groom try to handle everything themselves.

How to Avoid It:

  • Assign trusted friends or a wedding planner to handle last-minute details.
  • Create a contact list for vendors so someone else can take calls on your behalf.

7. Overlooking Small but Important Items

The Mistake: Forgetting something crucial like your vows, rings, or marriage license.

How to Avoid It:

  • Create a wedding day checklist and pack essentials in advance.
  • Have a designated person (maid of honor, best man) responsible for key items.
  • Be sure to have everything set aside in a folder & placed in a specific bag.

8. Not Scheduling Enough Time for Photos

The Mistake: Rushing through photos or missing key moments.

How to Avoid It:

  • Work with your photographer to build a realistic timeline for portraits, bridal party, and family shots.
  • Consider a first look to capture more photos before the ceremony. These portraits will be the ones you’ll likely put on your wall so don’t skimp on them!

9. Letting Small Mishaps Ruin Your Mood

The Mistake: Getting overwhelmed by minor insignificant setbacks.

How to Avoid It:

  • Expect small hiccups—most guests won’t notice!
  • Focus on enjoying the moment. 
  • Spending the extra money on an expert vendor team to handle things for you.

10. Forgetting to Soak in the Moment

The Mistake: The day flies by, and you barely get time to enjoy it.

How to Avoid It:

  • Take some intentional pauses throughout the day to breathe and take it all in.
  • Sneak away for a few private moments with your new spouse. (Be sure not to leave your photographer out though!)

Final Thoughts

By planning ahead and staying flexible, you can minimize stress and truly enjoy your wedding day. Remember, this is your wedding day!

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